Release Detail

March 18, 2003 - Pennsylvania Voters Oppose Affirmative Action,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Back Death Penalty, In Sync With National Trend

By a 57 - 36 percent margin, Pennsylvania voters oppose "affirmative action programs
that give preferences to black and other minorities, according to a Quinnipiac University
poll released today.

This is similar to the findings in a March 5 national poll by the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, where American voters opposed affirmative
action 51 - 38 percent.

In a simple "favor or oppose" question, Pennsylvania voters favor the death
penalty 67 - 28 percent. But when the choice is death or life without parole, support for
the death penalty drops to 50 - 42 percent.

"As Pennsylvania goes, so goes the nation when it comes to controversial topics
such as abortion, the death penalty and affirmative action. Public opinion on these topics
among Pennsylvania voters is in virtual lockstep with the national attitude - clearly
against affirmative action, for the death penalty and split on abortion," said Clay F.
Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"This makes Pennsylvania somewhat more conservative than its northeast
neighbors, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, especially on the abortion issue.
While almost seven in 10 say abortion should be legal in most or all cases in the other
three states, only 55 percent support it in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, 41 percent say
no to abortion in most or all cases, compared with less than 30 percent in its northeast
neighbors," Richards added.

In the nationwide poll, Americans favored the death penalty 64 - 29 in the simple
question, but backed off to 47 - 46 percent for life without parole.

Abortion should be legal in all cases, 23 percent of Pennsylvania voters say, while
32 percent say it should be legal in most cases. In contrast, 24 percent say abortion
should be illegal in most cases and 17 percent say abortion should be illegal in all cases.

Nationally, 22 percent of Americans say abortion should be legal in all cases, with
32 percent saying abortion should be legal in most cases; 24 percent saying abortion
should be illegal in most cases and 18 percent saying illegal in all cases.

From February 12 - 18 Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,099 Pennsylvania
registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

From February 26 - March 3, Quinnipiac surveyed 1,232 registered voters
nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the
nation as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

31. Do you favor or oppose affirmative action programs that give preferences
to blacks and other minorities?